The relocated Buffalo Outer Harbor series just had had its first taste of rock in 2023. Alter Bridge along with their friends in Sevendust and Mammoth WVH played this past Tuesday night along the lake. This is makeshift spot and stage until the completion (now delayed) of the new amphitheater along the waterfront.
Up first was Wolfgang Van Halen’s band Mammoth WVH. This was my second time taking the band in (8/7/21- almost 2 years to the day). The band is getting ready to unleash a new record called ‘Mammoth II’ on August 4th. So, within an opening slot, I was curious to see how they would balance playing the new material to the material from the band’s first record. The 40 minutes they played was about getting their feet wet. This is the first show of the summer for Mammoth WVH on U.S. soil. So, the band had to work out some kinks with the sound and getting comfortable playing again (July 6 was their last show in Scotland). The band trudged through it all with a good set of rock. 3 new tracks were played including the flavorful rocker “Another Celebration at the End of the World.” I’m already looking forward to their next headlining set.
Next was Sevendust, who also has new material to promote. The band just released their 14th studio effort ‘Truth Killer’ on July 28th. It should be noted that this was the first time the band ever performed without guitarist John Connolly. While training for his upcoming NYC marathon, he contracted covid so he sat out two shows. This one being the first. The band played for about an hour. The surprise for me was not only seeing Sevendust perform without Connolly, but they only played one new song in “Fence.” The song “Shine” was dedicated to the memory of vocalist Lajon Witherspoon’s brother. A funny part of the show was before the band played “Crucified, Witherspoon told the audience he had something to tell them. When it got quiet a fan yelled out, “The Bills are going to the Superbowl!” Witherspoon responded, not if my Chiefs have anything to do with it.” The band didn’t know what to do as they thought the fans would get unruly, but Witherspoon took the dialogue in a different direction. He got emotional and tears welled up in his eyes talking how the band was unable to perform for its fans during the covid period. I thought the band played with the usual piss and vinegar that fans have come to know from their live performances. Regardless of what they did, I felt something was lacking sound wise. It was probably the two guitar attack the band unleashes.
Alter Bridge closed the show and it’s been well over 6 years since I saw these guys live. They have been on tour all over the world since the release of ‘Pawns & Kings’ late in 2022. This is their last month of touring, and they just had a month off after hitting most of the major European festival circuit. So, it didn’t take the band to shake any rust off as they cruised into and through the opening track of “Silver Tongue.” Not many deliver tasty licks like Mark Tremonti, who many consider one of the best (if not the best) guitarist to come out of the late 1990’s early 2000’s rock scene. Tremonti also sang lead vocals on “Burn it Down.” Vocalist Myles Kennedy’s voice remains strong and powerful as ever. I always believe he is one of the most underrated rock vocalists there is. Both Kennedy and Tremonti slowed things down as it was only the two of them playing acoustically for “Watch Over You” and “In Loving Memory.” My personal favorite from Alter Bridge is the tune “Isolation.” The song sounded just like the first time I heard it live at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo back in 2010. It was solid set delivered by Alter Bridge.
A perfect triple bill of rock music was distributed to the fans in Buffalo who seemed to be very appreciative of this bill. I’m hoping more shows of this magnitude will be brought back to the harbor for years to come!
Alter Bridge Setlist:
Silver Tongue
Addicted to Pain
Ghost of Days Gone By
Broken Wings
Sin After Sin
Burn it Down
Cry of Achilles
Watch Over You
In Loving Memory
Blackbird
Come to Life
Pawns & Kings
Isolation
Metalingus
Open Your Eyes
Rise Today
We would like to thank Kevin Chiaramonte from PFA Media for the credentials to review the show.
